Short definitions for terms used throughout Studio and this Help Center.
- Activity
- The left sidebar panel that shows recent generation jobs, their status, and links to generated takes.
- API Key
- A secret string that identifies you to an AI provider. Stored in Keychain, not in project packages. Also called a provider key.
- Asset
- Any file in your project — imported media, generated takes, or extracted frames. Assets appear in the asset shelf.
- Asset Shelf
- The bottom area of the workspace where all project assets are listed. Supports grid and list views.
- Burn-in
- Rendering captions directly into the video picture so they cannot be turned off. Compare with sidecar caption files.
- C1 Captions
- The timeline lane for spoken-word caption cues. Separate from T1 Overlay.
- Caption Cue
- A single timed caption entry on the C1 lane. Created manually or from clip transcription.
- Cast
- The Elements section for character records — names, descriptions, speaking style, and voice profiles.
- Continuity Frame
- A frame captured from a previous take and used as the first frame of the next video generation.
- Defaults (Provider Defaults)
- Per-mode routing preferences: which provider and model to use for Image, Video, and Audio. Reapplied automatically when you switch modes.
- Edit Source
- The primary reference image for generation. The model uses this as the starting point or main visual guide.
- Effects
- The right rail tab for text overlays, captions, image overlays, and clip visual effects.
- Elements
- The right rail tab for reusable production records: Cast, Locations, Props, Style, Visual Assets, and Scene Cards.
- Export
- Writing the current timeline to an MP4 video file.
- First Frame Lock
- Locking the first frame of a video generation to a specific image.
- Frame Lock
- Using a reference image to control the first or last frame of a generated video.
- Generate
- Starting an AI provider job to create an image, video, or audio take.
- Generate From Prior Scene
- An advanced video option that captures the last frame of a previous take and uses it as the first frame of the next generation.
- Generation Job
- A single request to an AI provider. Recorded in the Activity panel with prompt, model, settings, and result.
- Image Overlay
- A visual screen layer — logo bug, watermark, product cutout — added from Effects > Image Overlays. Appears on the T1 Overlay lane.
- Keychain
- Apple's secure credential storage. Studio saves provider API keys here.
- Lane
- A horizontal row on the timeline. V1 for video, A1/A2 for audio, C1 for captions, T1 for overlays.
- Last Frame Extraction
- Capturing the final frame of a video clip for use as an image reference. Separate from video frame locks.
- Locations
- The Elements section for setting records — names and descriptions of places.
- Magnetic Snapping
- Timeline behavior that pulls clip edges together when they are close. Shows gap, connect, or overlap indicators.
- Model
- A specific AI model offered by a provider. Different models support different modes and features.
- Overlay
- A visual layer on the T1 lane — designed text, watermarks, logo bugs, and frame graphics.
- Package (.studio)
- A Studio project file. A folder that macOS displays as a single file, containing all project assets, records, and state.
- Playhead
- The white vertical line on the timeline marking the current position for playback, trimming, and splitting.
- Profile (Provider Profile)
- A named set of routing preferences saved in the project package. Covers image, video, audio, transcription, and analysis defaults.
- Prompt
- The text describing what you want to generate. Sent to the provider as the main creative instruction.
- Props
- The Elements section for important object records — items that appear across scenes.
- Provider
- An AI service that Studio connects to for generation. You bring your own API key.
- Reference Image
- An image attached to a generation request to guide the output. Can be an edit source or a visual reference.
- Scene Card
- A planning record under Elements > Scene. Holds the beat, script, dialogue, shot description, prompts, linked context, generated takes, and selected take for one moment in a project.
- Sidecar
- A separate file exported alongside the MP4 — such as an SRT or WebVTT caption file.
- Split
- Cutting a timeline clip into two at the playhead position.
- SRT (SubRip Subtitle)
- A plain-text caption file format used by many video players and platforms.
- Style
- The Elements section for visual style records — color palette, mood, composition rules.
- T1 Overlay
- The timeline lane for visual on-screen layers: designed text, watermarks, logo bugs, and image overlays. Separate from C1 Captions.
- Take
- A single generated output — one attempt at an image, video, or audio generation. You might generate several takes before selecting one.
- Timeline
- The assembly area below the viewer where you arrange clips into a sequence.
- Transport Bar
- The playback controls below the viewer: play, pause, step, volume.
- Trim
- Removing part of a clip before or after the playhead.
- Viewer
- The central preview area. Shows selected assets, generated takes, and timeline playback.
- Visual Asset
- An image-backed Elements record for reusable production visuals — logos, product cutouts, reference boards, style plates.
- Visual Reference
- A secondary reference image that guides style, color, or composition without being the main input.
- Voice Profile
- A saved voice selection from an audio provider, assignable to characters.
- WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks)
- A caption file format used by web video players.
- Workspace
- The full Studio window: left sidebar, viewer, timeline, asset shelf, and right rail.